Vehicle Passing Accidents in Greene County

Most vehicle passing accidents occur out on the rural highways or country roads. Many of the car or truck passing accidents that we have handled throughout Georgia at the law offices of Falanga and Chalker have been those that have occurred on the roads and highways leading into or out of the cities and towns around our four Georgia offices. For instance, car and truck passing accidents leading into or out of Milledgeville, near our Greensboro, Georgia office, occur quite frequently. Our expert legal staff is fully prepared to meet with clients in Milledgeville to evaluate and to pursue your personal injury or wrongful death claims that arise from this type of maneuver or truck collision.

These vehicle passing accident cases are quite common and usually result from a collision of vehicles either proceeding in the opposite direction or proceeding in the same direction. In overtaking and attempting to pass a vehicle, a driver is required to exercise ordinary care and skill, the measure of his duty in this respect would depend upon the then existing traffic conditions and other circumstances. Georgia law has enacted specific statutes which govern a drivers conduct when passing another vehicle on the highway. When overtaking and passing generally Georgia law states “The following rules shall govern the overtaking and passing of vehicles proceeding in the same direction, subject to those limitations, exceptions, and special rules stated in this article: (1) The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left thereof at a safe distance and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle; and (2) Except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted, the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle and shall not increase the speed of his vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle”. See O.C.G.A. Section 40-6-42.

Georgia law then gives a motorist even more direction when making a passing maneuver by stating “No vehicle shall be driven to the left side of the center of the roadway in overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction unless such left side is clearly visible and is free of oncoming traffic for a sufficient distance ahead to permit such overtaking and passing to be completely made without interfering with the operation of any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction or any vehicle overtaken. In every event, the overtaking vehicle shall return to an authorized lane of travel as soon as practicable and, in the event the passing movement involves the use of a lane authorized for vehicles approaching from the opposite direction , before coming within 200 feet of any approaching vehicle”. See O.C.G.A. Section 40-6-44.

The Georgia Drivers Manual also gives the following advice when passing on a two-lane road:

Wait for a passing zone to begin. A passing zone is indicated by striped lines to the right of the center line of the roadway. If the line nearest to your vehicle is solid, you are not in a passing zone;

Look ahead along the roadway to determine the length of the passing zone and if there is traffic approaching from the opposite direction. You must have sufficient time and space to execute your passing maneuver and return your vehicle completely to the right lane before the passing zone ends, before entering an intersection, and before oncoming traffic is within 200 feet of your vehicle;

Before leaving your lane to begin passing, check your rear view and side mirrors, and turn your head and look back to check your “blind spot.” Be certain that no one is passing you;

Activate your left turn signal as you begin passing;

Pass on the left and do not return to the right lane until your vehicle is safely clear of the overtaken vehicle. Wait until you can see the car you have just passed in your rear view mirror; and

Activate your right turn signal before returning to the right lane. Be sure to turn your signal off once you have returned to the right lane.

The bottom line is that a motorist should only attempt to pass another motorist ahead when he can do so with safety to motorists approaching from the opposite direction as well as to the motorist he is passing. If you are the injured victim of a vehicle passing accident and would like to discuss the facts of your case with our office here at Falanga and Chalker, then please fill out the “Contact Us” form on this web site.

We serve the following localities: Fulton County including Alpharetta, Roswell, and Sandy Springs; Clayton County including Jonesboro and Riverdale; Cobb County including Austell and Marietta; Gwinnett County including Buford, Lawrenceville, and Norcross; and Greene County including Greensboro.